Plank fitter tool



Oct. 25, 1932. A. R. DE WILI'T PLANK FITTER TOOL Original Filed March 3, 1930 Patented Oct. 25, 1932,

UNITED STATES RTHUR ninn 'wrrrr, oFnAnBoR srnnves, MICHIGAN, Assreivonxor ONE-HALF "r0 CARL L. WRIGHT, or HARBOR SPRINGS, MICHIGAN PLA K FITTER TOOL Original application filed March 3, 1930, Serial No. 432,684, now Patentllo; 1,828,103, dated October 20, 1931-. Divided and this applicatiofifllcd. September 21, 1931. Serial No. 563,976.

j I .The object ofmy invention is to provide a tool of simple,.du-rable and comparatively inexpensive construction for use, in fitting planks according to the method .covered by.

my co-pending application,- Serial No.

482,684, filed March 3, 19.30, from which a plication the present application has been divided, Patent No. 1,828,103. v

More particularly, itis my object to provide a cutting tool, whereby after a. plank has been secured to the form of a boat and another plank is positioned adjacent thereto, such tool may be easily guided'between the two planks for the purpose of cutting their Still another object is to adjacent edges parallel with each other, "so "that the planks can be consequently posie tioned'in contact with each other for forming a tight well-fitting joint, such as is of great importancein marine construction.

Another object is to provide such a "tool having a frame for carrying a cutter, a cutter,

and a flexible guide means for guiding. the

cuttertoolrelative to a space between two planks. v provide a tool so constructed and arrangedand provided with means that it may be employedforother operations on boat planks during the fitti'ngof the planks to the frame, such as equalizing the grooves between deck plankingforflthe receptionof deck seam sealing compound, allowing the deckplank to bemore carelessly fitted, both the joint between planks and in fitting boat planks.

. between planks and covering boards;

With these and other objects in iew, my invention consistsin the constructlon, arrangement and combination of the venous parts of my plank fitter tool, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as herein j -supply1ngpower-to the cutter tool, but since after more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

, Figure 1 is a plan view 0 i f tool used Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. I Figure 3 is a sectional View on the "line 33of-Figure 2.' I Figure 4 is a sectional View through two planks of a boat showing them secured toa I such power.

rib of the frame of the boat and showing. a l I gaugein use for spacing them apart.

7 Figure 5 is a similar view showing the cutter of thetool cutting between the". two planks.

' Figure 7 is a sectional view through a plank showing the cutter tool in use for rab-beting the edge of flthe plank.

Figure 8 is a sectional View similar. to

Figure '6 showing a rabbeted' plank in position adjacent another thereto by-a batten.

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure? showing the tool in operation for grooving the edge of the plank.

Figure 10 is a sectional view illustrating two of the planks shown'in'lligure 9 arranged edge to edge; and a 5 Figure 11. is a perspective view ofad pfh gauge f r the tool. r r

.In the accompanying-drawing, I have shown a form of tool embodying my invention. In the present instance,"the tool is carried on the casing of an electric motor'and is operate'dbythe motor. I haveused' the reference numeral-1O to indicate generallythe motor. The motor shaft is connected by a'suitable gearing "(not shown) with a drive shaft-14, The housing for the gearing is indicated at 16. j I

The shaft 14 carries thecutter tool 12. The motor casing is provided with a-suitable plank and "secured PATENT op s handle 18 at its end opposite the cutter tool forconvenience in manipulating thefentire device. Other means might beprovided for the tool must be portable, '1 find asmall electric motor a satisfactory means forsupplying Formed on or secured to the housing is a frame 20, shown'for instance in Figures 1 and 2, which'has a portion projecting away "from themotor and provided with aknoblike handle 22.

' The operator in using the tool ordinarily grasps the handle 18 at one end of the tool and the handle 22 at the other end.

The frame 20 carries a guard 24 extended over the upper part of the tool 12 for the protection of the user.

The tool is provided with a series of gauges which will now be explained.

The tool is provided with a depth gauge of which two forms are here illustrated.

Depth gauge Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that I have provided a depth which is V-shaped in longitudinal cross section with the obtuse angle down. A pair of angle brackets 28 are secured to the depth gauge 26 and extend upwardly therefrom. These brackets are provided with slots to receive the cap screws 30, which are screwed into the frame 20. The slots are vertically elongated and are not here shown, but are similar to those of the brackets 28a of the modified form of depth gauge 2611', which will be described below. One edge of the depth gauge 26 is arranged adjacent to the cut-ting tool 12, as shown for instance in Figures 3 and 7.

A slightly different type of depth gauge 26a is shown in Figure 11 and Figure 5. This gauge is similar in shape to that already described, but itis adjusted differently with re- --lation to the tool 12, and has a slot 32 through which the tool 12 mayproject. The depth gauge 26a is secured to the frame20 by means of brackets 28a, having the vertically elongated slots 28b to receive wing-cap screws 30,

similar to those already mentioned.

Front guide At the forward part of the device, there is provided a front guide consisting of an upright bar 34 shown in Figures 1 and 2. .The bar is provided at its lower part with a guide portion 36 and the guide shoulderE-BS. The guide bar 34.- is mounted for up and down sliding movementon a bracket 4-2.

In use, the shoulder 38 of the guide bar 34 is normally held down against the material on which the tool is operated by means of a spring 10 secured to the upwardly projecting part of the guide 34c and to the bracket 42.

The bracket 42 has a horizontal foot 43 in which is a laterally elongated slot 44-, through which extends a wing cap screw 4C6 mounted in the frame 20. By means of this screw 46, the bracket'is secured in any desired position of adjustment in a direction parallel with the drive shaft 14.

The guide bar 3%: is provided with notches 48 (Figure 2) into which a pivoted pawl 50 (Figures 1 and2) may be swung for holding the guide in a raised position or a lowered position.

gauge 26, 7

Trailing guide The apparatus is also provided with a trailing guide to be made and hung the same as the front guide, excepting that the spur engaging the seam must be slightly less in thickness than the cutter tool, so asto slide freely throughthe saw cut. v Both front and rear guides should be equipped with a pivoted pawl or a spring or the like, which would snap into a notch in the side of the guide bar when either'raised or lowered into extreme positions. The trailing or rear guide has the vertically slidable bar 52 with the guide portion 53 and shoulder 54 similar to the corresponding parts of the front guide. The trailing guide has a spring 4L2-and a pawl 50 and a notch, not shown, like the notch 48.

' It will be-seen from the foregoing description that the guide bars 34 and 52 maybe conveniently adjusted" laterally for accommodating them for use with cutting tools 12 Rabbet gauge A rabhet gauge or fence 58 (Figures 1 and 2) is also provided. Extending upwardly from the gauge 58 adjacent the respective ends thereof are the arms 60, having at their upper parts the enlarged portions 62 (see Figures 1,2 and 3) to receive the rods 64. projecting laterally from the frame 20. j

The wing set screws 6-3 are mounted in the enlarged hub-like portions 62 for locking the arms to therods 64s for thus securing the gauge 58 in various laterally adjusted positions with relations to the rods 64 and the cut ting tool. The lower edge of the rabbet guide is curved on part of an ellipse to provide greater adaptability 1n rabbeting or sawing curved or irregular work. It may be mentioned that the rods 65L are preferably slidable in the frame 20 for adjustment, and are locked in various positions of adjustment by means of twin set screws 67.

My method of fitting planks to the frames sitioning the closest adjacent portions of the planks 68 and 72 a predetermined distance apart. It w1ll,'of course, beunderstood that where necessary the planks are steamed and brought tethe proper shape before being se cured and claiilped to the boat frame in order that they may properly follow'the rregular contour of'the boat.

Normally the next operation, as illustrated in Figure 5, is to .pass a cutting: tool 12"of a selected 1 thickness between the planks 68 and 72 from one end to the other, so thatthe adjacent edges of the. planks will thenbe parallel with each other and will isnugly fit together.

The frontand. trailing guides are, of course, properlyset forrguiding the cutting toolwith relation'to the edge of one-plank.

At the stem of the boat, where it is not .desired to cut through the stem post, the front end ofthe fitting tool may be rested on. the plank, and then the rear end tipped downwardlyuntil the tool cuts into theplank,and the depth gauge 26a engages both planks.

When the frontend of the fitting tool is first positioned for this operation, the front guide bar 34 will .be in a raised position as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

The depth gauge-26a servesto provide a firm bearing on both planks and to prevent any side twisting of the cutting tool.

After the cutting tool has been-run lengthwise betweenthe planks68 and 7 2, the clamps may be loosened and the plank drawn-to tight position against thefixed plank.

By the use of my tool,.it is found that the contacting edges of thetwo planks fit-perfectly for their entire lengths and no further cutting for. fitting need be'done in order to obtain a tight joint. If desired, a batten, 76 may be glued and suitably fastened over the seam between the planks 68 and 72 as illustrated in Figure 6.. i

In boat construction, where sawed ribs are used, the frame may be set up andthe battens fastened to the ribsin notches sawed into the ribs, so-that the battens will be. flush with the outer faces of the ribs. and then the plank may be fastened to theribs and the battens.

When a plank is fitted adjacent to the keel 78 ofrthe boat, thedepth-gauge 26 is used instead of the depth gauge 26a,- wherever the keel is thicker thanthe plank, because. the

.- left half for instance ofthe-gauge 26a-w-ould be interfered with by the :keel, which is shown by dotted lines in Figure 5.

In Figure 8, there is illustrated a joint, which is preferable insomeinstances. In that type of joint, a rabbet 80 is formed in the edge of the plank 7 2' for example for the reception of a sealing compound 82, such for instance as is described in my Letters Patent, No. 1,805,812, issued May 19, 1931. For forming this rabbet, the depth gauge 26, and the rabbeting gauge 58 are used, as illustrated in Figure 7. Y

For making this use of the tool, the plank.

is placed on a'work benchor the like.

Another type of boat seam is illustrated in Flgure 10. There I have shown. rabbets'84 formed in thea djacent edges of the planks 68 and 62 and part-iallyfilled, with a compound 82 forced .intotheseamthrough an opening 86 in a battenor'the like 87. as-described in my. patent above referredto. The rabbets 84 may be formed by using thetool as-illustrated in Figure 7 and-iby properly adjusting the, depth gauge and'the rabbet uide. I It is obvious that my tool may be used for forming other types of rabbets and rooves and for doing various work involved m connection with the fitting of planks to boat frames.

In Figure 9, I have shown the tool with the parts adjusted to cut a groove in theedge of a plank 68.

My tool and the method employed with it are adapted to eliminate a great deal of skilled hand work formerly necessary'for'fitting planks to boat frames. Heretofore it has been common to saw theboat planks from straight planks according to a pattern previously drawn. This is. usually done on aband saw because the planks, are usually curved and are wider at some points in their length than at other points. When this old method is used; it is found that when the planks are put together on the frame, their adjacent edges are not parallel,'and it has therefore been necessary to do a lot of marking and re.- moving of the planks from the boat frame, the planing of the markededges, refitting and replaningin order to get the joints to properly fit together. Nearly every time the planks'are put on the boat frame, they must be steamed to make them. follow the contour of-the frame. All of this has required-much time and has made necessary the service of highly skilled men.

Where my tool is employed in the manner hereinbefore described, it is a simplematter to fasten the plank 68, then clamp the plank 7 2 spaced from the plank 68 by means of the gauge :7 5. This gauge isof slightly greater width than-the guide ends 2360f the front guide bar 34. The cutting'tool is then passed between the planks and thereupon the adjacent'edges are exactly parallel,no diflerence what variation there may have been in the edges prior to this operation. j

The plank can then be placed to ether to form a tight joint and battens may be moved and fastened into position or caulking material or compound maybe used for filling the Theguide 84 and the guide 52, which is th cker than the guide portion 36 of theguide 34 and is aligned therewith are so constructed 2612 as the case may-be regulates the-depth of V '125 V the cut, so'thatthe saw will notcut into the ribs 70, but will cut clear through the'planks. VVhere-I usethe term plank i'nmy claims,

it-will be understood that I intend to refer to any member on which the toolmay be propc'llyusedo Y Too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the fie'xiblity and adaptability of the tool for boat building. Its small cutter, compactness and its movable front and rear guides contributeto these advantages.

in the plank fitter tool, the guides must be Very short lengthwise of the tool and set close to the saw to permit the tool to follow the irregular shape sidewise of the planking oint.

Since the tool may have to be run over a concaved' surface at one point in a seam and further along it may be convexed, a flat depth gauge cannot be used and neither can a stationary guide ahead of the saw. So I have des gned a spring guide which permits flexibility with a spur at the bottom of the guide in the seam with the shoe acting as a depth gauge on the guide and running on the surface of the work.

This tool is so constructed as to follow irregular shaped lines both up and down and sidewise, as will be found in the lines of a boat. The spring guide is also to be set at an offset with the saw and not in line as in other devices.

Both the spring guide and the rear guide are to be used as a lateral guide and held tight to the edge of the plank already fastened. The spring guide should be set with just enough offset with saw to permit the saw to trim the edge of the fixed plank, cutting the bevel to correspond with the one which s cut on the plank that is clamped on. In the plank fitter, the rear guide is a very narrow guide setvery close to the saw, permitting the saw to be run in an irregular course.

The lateral guide is of elliptical shape to permit sawing or rabbeting the edge of the irregular shaped work, as there is very l ttle straight work in boat hull construction.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the fitting tool without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my purpose to cover by my claims, any variations in the size, shape, material or arrangement of the parts or any use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention 1. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby, a laterally adjustable guide in advance of said cutter of less thickness'than the cutter, and a laterally adjustable guide behind said cutter of less thickness than the cutter;

'2. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby, a laterally adjustable guide. in advance of said cutter of less thickness than the cutter, and a laterally adjustable vertically yieldable guide behind said cutter of lessthickness than the cutter.

3..A plank fitter tool comprising a frame,

a cutter carried thereby, a laterally adjustable vertically spring-tensioned guide in adsaid cutter V able guide in advance of said cutter of less thickness than the cutter, and a laterally adjustable guide behind said cutter, one of said guides being vertically spring-tensioned.

5. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby, a vertically yieldable guide in advance of said cutter of less thickness than the cutter, and a guide behind said cutter, whereby said tool is adaptable for work on other than flat surfaces.

6. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby, an adjustable spring tensioned guide in advance of said cutter, a depth gauge for said cutter, V-shaped in lengthwise cross section, and an adjustable spring tensioned guide behind said cutter.

7. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby, a guide close to said cutter of less thickness than the cutter and relatively short from front to rear to permit it to follow a lateral curve mounted for sliding adjustment, and yielding means for bold ing said guide at the lower limit ofits move- 'ment.

8. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby, a guide in advance of said cutter close to the cutter, spring means to hold said guide down and a shoulder on said guide to engage material being cut and thereby limit downward movement of the guide, said guide being laterally adjustable and relatively short from front to rear, and a guide close behind the cutter to permit the cutter to follow a lateral curve.

9. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby, a vertically yieldable guide in advance of said cutterof less thickness than the cutter, a guide behind said cutter, whereby said tool is adaptable for work on other than fiat surfaces, and'means to latch the guides in certain positions, against yielding movement.

10. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby, a depth gauge for -shaped in cross section and alateral gauge therefor for use during rabbeting and grooving operations of the fitter tool, with its lower edge'curved on part of an ellipse.

11. lfn a plank fitter tool of the kind described, a frame, a cutter mounted thereon, a portable power plant operatively'connected with said cutter and supported on said frame, a guide carried by said frame in front of the cutter, having a guide portion of less thickness than the cutter, a guide of less thickness than the cutter supportedon said frame rearwardly of said cutter, and means for adjusting said guides laterally with relation to the cutter.

' I a guide of less thickness than the cutter car-' 12. In a plank fitter tool of the kind described, a frame, acutter mounted thereon, a portable power plant 'operatively connected with said cutter and supported on said frame,

a guide of less thickness than the cutter car- 7 ried by said frame in front ofthe cutter, a

guide of less thickness" than the cutter sup-j ported on said frame rearwardly of said outter, means for adjusting said guides laterally with relation to the cutter, and a depth guide carried by said frame. 7 a 13. In a plank fitter'tool of the kind de scribed, a frame, a cutter mounted thereon, a

portable power plant operatively connected with said cutter and supported on said frame,

ried by said frame in front of the cutter, a

guide of less thickness than the cutter sup ported on said frame rearwardly of said cutter, means for adjusting said guides laterally with relation torthe cutter, and a depth guide carried by said frame V-shaped in longitudinal cross section and mounted for up and down adjustment on the frame.

14. In a plank fitter tool of the kind decarried by said frame, and a rabbet guide w carried by said frame and mounted for up and down lateral adjustment with relation to the frame and the cutter.

15. A plank fitter tool comprising a frame, a cutter carried thereby and a gauge having a V-shaped lower face adapted to serve as a depth gauge for following convex or concave curves and yieldable guides, arranged before and behind the cutter.

Des Moines, Iowa, August 31, 1931.

ARTHUR R. v DE WITT. 

